The Premier League is a marathon of pain, glory, and survival, and every new weekend brings its own drama. Arsenal against West Ham United this Saturday is more than just another London derby. It is a story of two clubs standing on very different roads, one trying to chase greatness and another trying to rebuild, and yet both fighting against the same enemy: injuries that weaken their squads and decisions that could decide their season.
Mikel Arteta stands on the touchline of Arsenal with the weight of expectation heavier than ever. The Gunners have started this season with belief that they can go one step further than before. They have felt the pain of falling short, they have seen Manchester City and Liverpool dominate, and they want their own name carved on the trophy. Since their defeat against Liverpool at the end of August, Arsenal have responded with strength. Five wins out of six in all competitions, and a draw against Manchester City that proved they can fight with anyone. Confidence is back, the Emirates has found its rhythm, but fate has never been kind to those who dream too early.
This weekend, West Ham arrive with a new face in the dugout. Graham Potter’s chapter is already closed, and in comes Nuno Espirito Santo, a manager who knows both pressure and patience. His first game ended in a 1-1 draw against Everton, not spectacular but steady, a platform to build on. Now, just his second game in charge will be against Arsenal, a club riding form, a stadium expecting victory, and a manager who has little time for mistakes. West Ham want to cause an upset. They want to shock their neighbours. And in football, one moment, one mistake, or one injury can flip the story
And injuries are at the heart of this story. For Arsenal, the treatment room is still too busy, the doctors and physios are still too familiar with first-team names. Bukayo Saka has just returned from his hamstring problem, and his presence gives the fans hope. Every time he runs down the wing, the Emirates breathes again. But Arsenal cannot relax.
The biggest worry is Gabriel Magalhaes, the Brazilian defender who has been the rock beside William Saliba. In the midweek Champions League clash against Olympiacos, Gabriel left the pitch with a problem. Arsenal won 2-0, but the smiles were muted when Gabriel limped away. Arteta tried to calm the panic. “We’ll have to wait and see after training,” he said. “We’ve done almost nothing today so we’ll see how everybody is but we weren’t too concerned about him.” But in football, the smallest injuries can become storms. Without Gabriel, Arsenal’s backline would shake, and against a West Ham side desperate to impress their new coach, that is a dangerous risk.
Then there is Piero Hincapie. Arsenal brought him from Bayer Leverkusen with hope, but the Premier League has not yet seen him in action. His only taste so far was a brief appearance in the Champions League against Athletic Club. The fans have been waiting, wondering, asking when he will step into the league. Arteta’s answer was cautious. “He will be available after the international break,” the manager admitted. “We’ve been trying to do everything as fast as possible but this came too fast and now we have the international break and hopefully after that he will have a couple of sessions with the team and ready to go.”
So, Hincapie waits, the fans wait, and Arsenal’s defence walks into the weekend with questions instead of answers.
And the list does not end there. Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus — all names that should be on the pitch, all names instead stuck on medical reports. Madueke’s creativity is missing, Havertz’s versatility is gone, and Jesus’ energy and finishing power are sidelined. These absences cut into Arsenal’s attacking depth. Every match feels heavier when your forwards are missing, every decision sharper when your bench is short. Arteta has to make big calls. Does he risk players not fully fit? Does he rotate with youth? Or does he trust the ones who are available to fight with what is left?
West Ham are no strangers to injury pain either. Nuno Espirito Santo arrives at a club where the problems are already laid out in front of him. Four players could miss the trip to Arsenal, and these are not just squad fillers. Tomas Soucek, the heart of their midfield, a warrior who runs until the final whistle, could be out. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, reliable in defence, could also miss out. Jean-Clair Todibo, another key figure, is a doubt. These absences strip West Ham of strength, of rhythm, of leadership.
This means Nuno walks into the Emirates with a challenge: how to organise a team still adjusting to his voice, how to keep discipline against an Arsenal side full of attacking threat, and how to turn injury setbacks into motivation. Managers earn their names in matches like this. If he can take even a point from Arsenal, West Ham fans will start to believe. If he loses badly, the questions will grow louder, the pressure will mount faster.
The mood in London is tense. Arsenal fans are excited but cautious, West Ham fans are nervous but hopeful. The derby feeling always adds fire. This is not just about points, it is about pride. Arsenal want to continue their push for the top, West Ham want to stop them.
Arteta knows the danger of underestimating. He has seen his team lose focus in games they were expected to win. He has seen how quickly momentum can break. And he has seen how injuries can turn strong squads into fragile ones. That is why his words before the game matter, his decisions in the lineup matter, and his ability to adapt during the ninety minutes will define whether Arsenal celebrate or suffer.
For the fans, every detail will be analysed. Will Gabriel recover in time? Will Saka start again and show his magic? Will Arsenal’s attack find goals without Jesus and Havertz? Will West Ham’s players respond to Nuno’s ideas, or will they look like a team still lost in transition?
Nine Arsenal players could miss out, four West Ham players could be unavailable, and yet when the whistle blows, excuses will mean nothing. The game will be played on the grass, in front of thousands, under the eyes of millions watching on screens. London derbies are never quiet, and this one will be no different.
Arsenal want to prove that this season is theirs, that their response since August was not just luck, but consistency. West Ham want to announce that under Nuno they will not roll over, that they will fight no matter what. Injuries may define the preparation, but once the ball rolls, it is courage, tactics, and hunger that decide the story.
Football is cruel, football is beautiful, and on Saturday afternoon at the Emirates, two clubs will step into ninety minutes that could shape the way their October begins. For Arsenal, it could be another step toward the title dream. For West Ham, it could be the spark of a new era. For both, it will be a test of how you fight when your best soldiers are missing, and only the strongest survive.
